B. Cepacia Infections Linked to Flush Syringe Reported in New Jersey

At least 13 people in New Jersey have recently developed a complicated bacterial infection associated with an outbreak linked to contaminated IV flush syringes made by Nurse Assist.

Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one developed an infection after using an I.V. flush syringe, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.

What’s the problem?

November 14, 2016 – To date, a total of 52 Burkholderia cepacia (“B. cepacia”) infections in New Jersey have been linked to Nurse Assist saline flush syringes, part of a multi-state outbreak being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

The New Jersey Department of Health last month issued alerts to long-term healthcare facilities, such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, about potential B. cepacia contamination in flush syringes from the Texas-based supplier. The agency urged providers to discontinue use of the products immediately.

In October 2015, Nurse Assist issued a nationwide recall for all unexpired lots of its I.V. flush syringes over potential contamination with B. cepacia, an antibiotic-resistant bacteria that causes severe infection in patients with compromised immune systems or chronic lung diseases like cystic fibrosis. Signs and symptoms of B. cepacia infection include fever, cough, congestion, shortness of breath and wheezing.

“This infection is not very common,” said Dr. Manish Trivedi, an infectious disease specialist and chairman of infection prevention at AtlantiCare. “It typically affects patients with weakened immune systems or underlying lung diseases. In this (outbreak), not all patients who were exposed had issues, but some had preexisting conditions and were affected.”

The first two cases in New Jersey occurred in Bergen County early last month. B. cepacia has been reported in 19 healthcare facilities across the state, according to the CDC, which has not identified the institutions by name.

Do I have a Flush Syringe Lawsuit?

The Product Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Nurse Assist flush syringe lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new infection cases in all 50 states.

Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one was injured, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.